Touch sensitive processing method and apparatus and touch system

ABSTRACT

A touch sensitive processing method applicable to a touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes sequentially a third electrode layer, a flexible dielectric layer, and at least one touch electrode layer. The third electrode layer includes multiple parallel third electrodes. The at least one touch electrode layer includes first electrodes in parallel to a first axis and second electrodes in parallel to a second axis. Each of the first electrodes intersects with the second electrodes to form multiple intersections. The touch sensitive processing method comprises: performing self-capacitance detection via the third electrodes to retrieve an approximating event, performing mutual-capacitance detection via the first electrodes and the second electrodes to retrieve a touching event, and reporting the approximating event to a host if the touching event is detected, or reporting the touching event if it is detected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application is based on a Taiwan, R.O.C. patent applicationNo. 109120595 filed on Jun. 17, 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to touch sensitive technique, and moreparticularly, to touch screen for determining whether an externalconductive object is approximating or touching and related techniques.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern electronic systems equipping with touch panels or touch screensare increasing common. Hereinafter, the present application uses theterm touch screen to refer to touch panel and touch screen. User can usean external conductive object approximating or touching a touch screento create an approximating or touching event to input information. Inorder to increase functionalities, electronic systems can reactdifferently in respect to an approximating event and a touching event.

However, when an external conductive object approximating or touching acapacitance sensing touch screen, traditional touch sensitive processingapparatus cannot distinguish whether the detected event is anapproximating event or a touching event. Thus, there exists a need of atouch screen for determining whether an external conductive object isapproximating or touching and related techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensitiveprocessing method is provided. The touch sensitive processing methodapplicable to a touch panel which sequentially includes a layer of thirdelectrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least one layer of touchelectrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodes includes multipleparallel third electrodes, the at least one layer of touch electrodesincludes multiple first electrodes in parallel to a first axis andmultiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis, each of thefirst electrode intersects with the second electrodes, wherein the touchsensitive method comprising: performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get an one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of the third electrodes;detecting a first approximating event corresponding to a firstconductive object according to the one-dimensional array and a baseone-dimensional array, wherein a distance between the layer of thirdelectrodes and the first conductive object is less than a distancebetween the layer of touch electrodes and first conductive object; andwhen the first approximating event is detected, performing followingsteps: performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodesand the second electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array;detecting a first touching event corresponding to the first externalconductive object according to the two-dimensional array; and reportingthe first approximating event to a host when the first touching event isnot detected.

According to one embodiment of the present application, a touchsensitive processing apparatus is provided. The touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus applicable to a touch panel which sequentiallyincludes a layer of third electrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and atleast one layer of touch electrodes, wherein the layer of thirdelectrodes includes multiple parallel third electrodes, the at least onelayer of touch electrodes includes multiple first electrodes in parallelto a first axis and multiple second electrodes in parallel to a secondaxis, each of the first electrode intersects with the second electrodes,wherein the touch sensitive apparatus comprising: an interconnectionnetwork module, configured to connect to one or more of the first, thesecond and the third electrodes; a driving circuit module, configured totransmit driving signals via the interconnection network module; asensing circuit module, configured to sense induced driving signals viathe interconnection network module; a processor module, coupled to theinterconnection network module, the driving circuit module and thesensing circuit module, configured to execute instructions stored innon-volatile memory to realize following steps: have the driving circuitmodule and the sensing circuit module through the interconnectionnetwork performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes inorder to get an one-dimensional array composing sensing informationcorresponding to each of the third electrodes; detecting a firstapproximating event corresponding to a first conductive object accordingto the one-dimensional array and a base one-dimensional array, wherein adistance between the layer of third electrodes and the first conductiveobject is less than a distance between the layer of touch electrodes andfirst conductive object; and when the first approximating event isdetected, performing following steps: have the driving circuit moduleand the sensing circuit module through the interconnection networkperforming mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodes and thesecond electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array; detecting afirst touching event corresponding to the first external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; and reporting the firstapproximating event to a host when the first touching event is notdetected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch system isprovided. The touch system comprising the aforementioned touch panel andthe touch sensitive processing apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensitiveprocessing method is provided. The touch sensitive processing methodapplicable to a touch panel which sequentially includes a layer of thirdelectrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least one layer of touchelectrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodes includes multipleparallel third electrodes, the at least one layer of touch electrodesincludes multiple first electrodes in parallel to a first axis andmultiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis, each of thefirst electrode intersects with the second electrodes, wherein the touchsensitive method comprising: performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get a first one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of first ends of the thirdelectrodes, and performing self-capacitance sensing via the thirdelectrodes in order to get a second one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of second ends of the thirdelectrodes; detecting a first approximating event corresponding to afirst conductive object according to the first one-dimensional array andthe second one-dimensional array, wherein a distance between the layerof third electrodes and the first conductive object is less than adistance between the layer of touch electrodes and first conductiveobject; and when the first approximating event is detected, performingfollowing steps: performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the firstelectrodes and the second electrodes in order to get a two-dimensionalarray; detecting a first touching event corresponding to the firstexternal conductive object according to the two-dimensional array; andreporting the first approximating event to a host when the firsttouching event is not detected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus is provided. The touch sensitive processingapparatus applicable to a touch panel which sequentially includes alayer of third electrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least onelayer of touch electrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodesincludes multiple parallel third electrodes, the at least one layer oftouch electrodes includes multiple first electrodes in parallel to afirst axis and multiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis,each of the first electrode intersects with the second electrodes,wherein the touch sensitive apparatus comprising: an interconnectionnetwork module, configured to connect to one or more of the firstelectrodes, the second electrodes, first ends and second ends of thethird electrodes; a driving circuit module, configured to transmitdriving signals via the interconnection network module; a sensingcircuit module, configured to sense induced driving signals via theinterconnection network module; a processor module, coupled to theinterconnection network module, the driving circuit module and thesensing circuit module, configured to execute instructions stored innon-volatile memory to realize following steps: have the driving circuitmodule and the sensing circuit module through the interconnectionnetwork performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes inorder to get a first one-dimensional array composing sensing informationcorresponding to each of the first ends of the third electrodes, andhave the driving circuit module and the sensing circuit module throughthe interconnection network performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get a second one-dimensional arraycomposing sensing information corresponding to each of the second endsof the third electrodes; detecting a first approximating eventcorresponding to a first conductive object according to the firstone-dimensional array and the second one-dimensional array, wherein adistance between the layer of third electrodes and the first conductiveobject is less than a distance between the layer of touch electrodes andfirst conductive object; and when the first approximating event isdetected, performing following steps: have the driving circuit moduleand the sensing circuit module through the interconnection networkperforming mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodes and thesecond electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array; detecting afirst touching event corresponding to the first external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; and reporting the firstapproximating event to a host when the first touching event is notdetected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch system isprovided. The touch system comprising the aforementioned touch panel andthe touch sensitive processing apparatus.

The touch system, the touch sensitive processing apparatus and methodprovided by the present application can distinguish whether the externalconductive object approximates or contacts the touch screen so as thehost can increase types of responsive activities with respect todifferent kinds of input corresponding to one position. Thus, thefunctionalities of the touch system are increased to enrich user'sexperience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and spirit related to the present invention can befurther understood via the following detailed description and drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a touch sensitive system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A through 2C show profile diagrams of a touch screen 120 inaccordance with three embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict top views of the layers of third electrodesaccording to two embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of first electrodes and second electrodesin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart diagram of a touch sensitive processingmethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart diagram of a touch sensitive processingmethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Some embodiments of the present application are described in detailsbelow. However, in addition to the description given below, the presentinvention can be applicable to other embodiments, and the scope of thepresent invention is not limited by such rather by the scope of theclaims. Moreover, for better understanding and clarity of thedescription, some components in the drawings may not necessary be drawnto scale, in which some may be exaggerated related to others, andirrelevant. If no relation of two steps is described, their executionorder is not bound by the sequence as shown in the flowchart diagram.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which shows a block diagram of a touch sensitivesystem 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The touch sensitive system 100 may be normal desktop, laptop, tabletpersonal computer, industrial control computer, smart phone or any othercomputer system with touch sensitive function.

The touch sensitive system 100 may comprise a touch sensitive processingapparatus 110, a touch panel or touch screen 120 coupled to the touchsensitive processing apparatus 110 and a host 140 coupled to the touchsensitive processing apparatus 110. The touch sensitive system 100 mayfurther comprises one or more styli 130 and/or touch board erasers 135.Hereinafter, the touch panel or screen 120 may be collectively referredas touch screen 120. However, in embodiments which are lack of displayfunction, person has ordinary skill in the art can understand that thetouch screen denoted in the present application is actually a touchpanel.

The touch screen 120 comprises first electrodes 121 in parallel to afirst axis and second electrodes 122 and one or more third electrodes123 in parallel to a second axis. The first electrode 121 intersectswith multiple of the second electrodes 122 in order to form multiplesensing points or areas. Similarly, the second electrode 122 intersectswith multiple of the first electrodes 121 in order to form multiplesensing points or areas. In some embodiment, the present applicationuses first touch electrodes 121 to refer to the first electrodes 121,uses second touch electrodes 122 to refer to the second electrodes 122and uses third touch electrodes 123 to refer to the third electrodes123. The present application also calls touch electrodes to refer to thefirst electrodes 121, the second electrodes 122 and the third electrodes123 collectively. In some embodiments, the first electrodes 121, thesecond electrodes 122 and the third electrodes 123 may be made bytransparent materials. The first electrodes 121 and the secondelectrodes 122 may be placed in one electrode layer. Multiple conductiveplates of each of the first electrodes 121 or the second electrodes 122may be connected by bridging. Alternatively, the first electrodes 121and the second electrodes 122 may be placed in two overlaid electrodelayers. Unless specified particularly, the present application usuallyis applicable to single-layer or multiple-layer embodiments. The firstaxis is usually perpendicular to the second axis. However, the presentapplication does not limit that the first axis has to be perpendicularto the second axis. In one embodiment, the first axis may be thehorizontal axis or a refresh axis of the touch screen 120.

Please refer to FIG. 2A, which shows a profile diagram of a touch screen120 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The touchscreen 120 includes an aforementioned structure, which sequentiallyincludes a layer of the third electrodes 123, an elastic dielectriclayer 124, a layer of the second electrodes 122, a dielectric layer 125and a layer of the first electrodes 121. Person having ordinary skill inthe art can understand that the touch screen may include other displaystructures or layers. However, in order to describe the presentinvention clearly, the other display structures or layers are omitted.

External conductive objects 139 such as fingers are closest to the layerof third electrodes 123. The elastic dielectric layer 123 is sandwichedby the layer of third electrodes 123 and the layer of second electrodes122. It is configured to insulate the second electrodes 122 from thethird electrodes 123. When an external conductive object 139 touches thetouch screen 120 downwardly, the layer of third electrodes 123 and theelastic dielectric layer 124 are deformed by the downward force. Hence,the distance between the layer of third electrodes 123 and the layer ofsecond electrodes 122 is shorten accordingly. The capacitances betweenthe second electrodes 122 and the third electrodes 123 are changed inresponse to the change of the distance.

Please refer to FIG. 2B, which shows a profile diagram of a touch screen120 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Comparingwith the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2A, the layer of first electrodes121 and the layer of second electrodes 122 interchanges their places.The elastic dielectric layer 123 is sandwiched by the layer of thirdelectrodes 123 and the layer of first electrodes 121. It is configuredto insulate the first electrodes 121 from the third electrodes 123. Whenan external conductive object 139 touches the touch screen 120downwardly, the layer of third electrodes 123 and the elastic dielectriclayer 124 are deformed by the downward force. Hence, the distancebetween the layer of third electrodes 123 and the layer of firstelectrodes 121 is shorten accordingly. The capacitances between thefirst electrodes 121 and the third electrodes 123 are changed inresponse to the change of the distance.

Please refer to FIG. 2C, which shows a profile diagram of a touch screen120 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Comparingwith the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first electrodes121 and the second electrodes are disposed in one layer. Multipleconductive plates of each of the first electrodes 121 or each of thesecond electrodes 122 are connected by bridging. When an externalconductive object 139 touches the touch screen 120 downwardly, the layerof third electrodes 123 and the elastic dielectric layer 124 aredeformed by the downward force. Hence, the distance between the layer ofthird electrodes 123 and the layer of first electrodes 121 and thesecond electrodes 122 is shorten accordingly. The capacitances betweenthe first electrodes 121 and the third electrodes 123 are changed inresponse to the change of the distance. The capacitances between thesecond electrodes 122 and the third electrodes 123 are also changed inresponse to the change of the distance.

In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2A, since the layer of thirdelectrodes 123 is closer to the layer of second electrodes 122, thethird electrodes 123 may be with the first electrodes 121 in parallel tothe first axis. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2B, since the layerof third electrodes 123 is closer to the layer of first electrodes 121,the third electrodes 123 may be with the second electrodes 122 inparallel to the second axis. However, the present application does notlimit the third electrodes 123 being arranged to a different directionfrom its immediate underlying electrode layer.

The touch sensitive processing apparatus 110 may comprise followinghardware circuit modules: an interconnection network module 111, adriving circuit module 112, a sensing circuit module 113, a processormodule 114, and an interface module 115. The touch sensitive processingapparatus 310 may be implemented inside a single integrated circuitwhich may include one or more chips. It may use multiple integratedcircuits and an interconnected circuit board carried the multipleintegrated circuits to realize the touch sensitive processing apparatus110. The touch sensitive processing apparatus 110 and the host 140 maybe implemented in the same integrated circuits, or in the same chip. Inother words, the present application does not limit how to implement thetouch sensitive processing apparatus 110.

The interconnection network module 111 is configured to connect each ofthe multiple first electrodes 121, the multiple second electrodes 122and/or the multiple third electrodes 123 of the touch screen 120. Theinterconnection network module 111 may accept control command of theprocessor module 114 for connecting the driving circuit module 112 andany one or more touch electrodes and for connecting the sensing circuit113 and any one or more touch electrodes. The interconnection networkmodule 111 may include a combination of one or more multiplexers (MUX)to realize the aforementioned functions.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B which depict top views of the layers ofthird electrodes according to two embodiments of the present invention,respectively. The third electrodes 123 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B arein parallel to the first axis or the second axis. The total area of allthe third electrodes 123 may occupy a percentage of the total area ofthe touch screen, where the percentage may be 80%, 85%, 90% or 90%. Whythe percentage of the third electrodes 123 is so high would be providedin following paragraphs.

Each of the third electrodes 123 as shown in FIG. 3A connects with theinterconnection network module 111 via a circuit coupled to an end ofthe third electrode 123. This kind of connection is named as “singlerouting.” Each of the third electrodes 123 as shown in FIG. 3B connectswith the interconnection network module 111 via circuits coupled to bothends of the third electrode 123. The kind of connection is named as“double routing.” The interconnection network module 111 may connect thedriving circuit module 112 and/or the sensing circuit module 113 withboth ends of the third electrode 123 via the “double routing”connection.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which illustrates a diagram of first electrodesand second electrodes in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 is a top view of the touch screen 120. When viewingthe three structures of the touch screens as shown in FIGS. 2A through2C from top, it would be shown in FIG. 4. The interconnection networkmodule 111 may connect the driving circuit module 112 and/or the sensingcircuit module 113 with one or more of the first electrodes 121 or thesecond electrodes 122, respectively. The present application does notlimit whether it uses “single routing” or “double routing” to connectwith the first electrodes 121 and the second electrodes 122.

The driving circuit module 112 may comprise clock generator, frequencydivider, frequency multiplier, phase lock loop, power amplifier, DC-DCvoltage converter, regulator and/or filter, which is configured toprovide driving signal to any one or more touch electrodes via theinterconnection network module 111 according to control commands of theprocessor module 114. The driving signal may be modulated by kinds ofanalog or digital modulations for carrying some messages. Themodulations include but not limit to frequency modulation (FM), phasemodulation, amplitude modulation, dual sideband modulation (DSB), singlesideband module (SSB-AM), vestigial sideband modulation, amplitude shiftkeying (ASK), phase shift keying (PSK), quadrature amplitude modulation(QAM), frequency shift keying (FSK), continuous phase modulation (CPM),code division multiple (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA),orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), pulse widthmodulation (PWM) and etc. The driving signal may include one or moresquare waves, sinuous waves or any modulated waves. The driving circuitmodule 112 may include one or more channel. Each channel may beconnected to any one or more touch electrodes via the interconnectionnetwork module 111.

The sensing circuit module 113 may comprise clock generator, frequencydivider, frequency multiplier, phase lock loop, power amplifier, DC-DCvoltage converter, regulator and/or filter, which is configured to senseon any one or more touch electrodes via the interconnection networkmodule 111 according to control commands of the processor module 114.When the touch signal is transmitted from one of the touch electrodes,another touch electrode may induce the touch signal. And the sensingcircuit module 130 may demodulate the induced touch signal by theanother touch electrode in accordance with the modulation methodperformed on the driving signal by the driving circuit module 112 inorder to restore the messages carried by the driving signal. The sensingcircuit module 113 may include one or more channels. Each channel may beconnected to any one or more touch electrodes via the interconnectionnetwork module 111. In the same time, each channel may simultaneouslyperform sensing and demodulation.

In one embodiment, the driving circuit module 112 and the sensingcircuit module 113 may include analog front-end (AFE) circuits. Inanother embodiment, in additional to the AFE circuits, the drivingcircuit module 112 and the sensing circuit module 313 may includedigital back-end (DBE) circuits. If the driving circuit module 112 andthe sensing circuit module 113 include only the AFE circuits, the DBEcircuits may be implemented in the processor module 114.

The processor module 114 may include a digital signal processor forconnecting the AFE circuits or the DBE circuits of the driving circuitmodule 112 and the sensing circuit module 113, respectively. Theprocessor module 114 may include an embedded processor, non-volatilememories and volatile memories. Normal or real-time operating system(OS) and their application programs may be stored in the non-volatilememories. The OS and the application programs include multipleinstructions and data. The processor (including the embedded processorand the digital signal processor) may execute the instructions forcontrolling other modules including the interconnection network module111, the driving circuit module 112, the sensing circuit module 113 andthe interface module 115 of the touch sensitive processing apparatus110. For examples, the processor module 114 may comprises processorswidely adopted in the industry such as 8051 series, Intel i960 series,ARM Cortex-M series and etc. The present application does not limittypes and numbers of processors included in the processor module 314.

The instructions and data may be used to implement each of stepsmentioned in the present application and flows and methods constructedby the steps. Some instructions may be executed independently inside theprocessor module 114, for examples, arithmetic and log operationinstructions. Other instructions may be used to control other modules ofthe touch sensitive processing apparatus 110. These instructions mayinclude input/output interfaces of the processor module 114 to controlother modules. Other modules may provide information via theinput/output interface of the processor module 114 to the OS and/orapplication programs executed by the processor module 114. Personshaving ordinary skill in the art should have common knowledge ofcomputer organization and architecture which enabling them to understandthat the flows and methods provided by the present application can berealized by the modules and the instructions.

The interface module 115 may include kinds of serial or parallel bus,such as universal serial bus (USB), I²C, peripheral componentinterconnect (PCI), PCI-Express, IEEE 1394 and other industrial standardinput/output interface. The touch sensitive processing apparatus 110connects to the host 140 via the interface module 115.

The touch system 300 may comprise one or more styli 130 and/or toucherasers 135. The stylus 130 and touch eraser 135 may be transmitterswhich emit electrical signals. The transmitters may include activetransmitter which actively emits electrical signals or passivetransmitter which emits electrical signals in response to outsideelectrical signals. The stylus 130 and touch eraser 135 may comprise oneor more electrodes which is configured to receive electrical signalsfrom the touch screen synchronously or asynchronously, or to transmitelectrical signals to the touch screen synchronously or asynchronously.The electrical signals may be modulated according to one or more of theaforementioned modulation methods.

The stylus 130 or touch eraser 135 may be conductor which is configuredto transmit driving signals or to be grounded via user's hand or body.The stylus 130 or touch eraser 135 may be wired or wirelessly connectedto an I/O interface module 141 of the host 140 or any other underlyingmodules of the I/O interface module 141.

The touch sensitive processing apparatus 110 may detect one or moreexternal conductive objects 139 such as fingers, palms or passive styli130 or touch erasers 135 or styli 130 or touch erasers 135 emittingelectrical signals via the touch screen 120. The touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus 110 may utilize mutual-capacitance orself-capacitance principles to detect external conductive objects. Thestyli 330 or touch erasers 335 and touch sensitive processing apparatus110 may use the aforementioned modulation and demodulation methods totransmit message via the electrical signals. The touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus 110 may detect one or more positions where thestylus 130 or touch erasers 135 touches or approximates the touch screen120, status or sensors (pressure sensor or button) onboard the stylus130 or touch eraser 135, orientation angle or inclination angle of thestylus 130 or touch erasers 135 with respect to the touch screen 120 andetc. according to the electrical signals.

The host 140 is a main apparatus for controlling the touch system 100.It may comprises an input/output interface module 141 for connecting theinterface module 115, a central processing unit (CPU) module 142, agraphics processor module 143, a memory module 144 connects to the CPUmodule 142, a network interface module 145 and a storage module 146connect to the input/output interface module 141.

The storage module 146 comprises non-volatile memory. Common examplesare hard disks, electronic erasable rewritable read only memory(EEPROM), or flash memory. The storage module 146 may store normaloperating system and application programs executable under the operatingsystem. The network interface module 145 may comprise wired or wirelesshardware network interface. The network interface module 145 may becompliant to common industrial standards such as IEEE 802.11 WirelessLocal Area Network, IEEE 802.3 Local Area Network, 3G, 4G and/or 5Gwireless telecommunication standards, Bluetooth wireless communicationstandards, and etc.

The CPU module 142 may directly or indirectly connects to theinput/output interface module 141, the graphics processor module 143,the memory module 144, the network interface module 145 and one storagemodule 146. The CPU module 142 may comprises one or more processor orprocessor cores. Common processors may include Intel, AMD, VIA's x86 andx64 instruction set architecture (ISA) processors, Apple, Qualcomm,Mediatek's ARM ISA processors, or any other types of complex instructionset computer (CISC) or reduced instruction set computer (RISC)processors. The OS and application programs include multipleinstructions and data corresponding to the instruction set. By executingthese instructions, the CPU module 142 is able to control other modulesof the touch system 100.

The optional graphics processor module 143 is usually configured tohandle computations with respect to graphics outputs. The graphicsprocessor module 143 may connect to the touch screen 120 for controllingoutputs of the touch screen 120. In some applications, the host 140 mayhave the CPU module 142 execute the computations with respect tographics outputs, without dedicated handling of the graphics processormodule 143.

The host 140 may comprise components or apparatus not shown in FIG. 1,for example, audio input/output interface, keyboard input interface,mouse input interface, track-ball input interface and/or any otherhardware modules. Persons having ordinary skill in the art should havecommon knowledge of computer organization and architecture. They canunderstand the touch system 100 disclosed by the present application isexemplary. Parts regarding to the inventive feature provided by thepresent application should be referred to the specification and theclaim.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which depicts a flowchart diagram of a touchsensitive processing method 500 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. The touch sensitive processing method 500 may beimplemented by the touch sensitive processing apparatus 110 which mayapply to the “single routing” structure as shown in FIG. 3A and thethree structures as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, respectively. In oneembodiment, the touch sensitive processing method 500 is realized byexecution of a program stored in a non-volatile memory and executed bythe processor module 114. Unless there exists a causal relationship, thepresent application does not limit execution sequence of any two steps.

Step 510: performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes123. In this step, it may have the driving circuit module 112 and thesensing circuit module 113 to perform self-capacitance sensing via oneor more of the third electrodes 123 concurrently. Person having ordinaryskill in the art can understand that the driving circuit module 112 mayemit driving signals via each of the third electrodes 123.Simultaneously, the sensing circuit module 113 may measure the drivingsignals via each of the third electrodes 123. When one externalconductive object 139 approximating one of the third electrodes 123,part of the driving signals induced by the third electrode 123 would betransferred to outside via the external conductive object 139. Hence,the driving signals measured via the third electrode 123 are changedaccordingly.

Step 520: according to an one-dimensional array sensed by the step 510and a base one-dimensional array which is sensed when no externalconductive object approximating or touching, determining whether thereis any element in the one-dimensional array changed significantly, i.e.,determining whether any external conductive object approximating. If so,it is determined that an event of approximating happened, i.e., thereexists an external conductive object approximating or touching the touchscreen 120 nearby the third electrodes 123. Thus, the flow proceeds tostep 530. When there is no element in the one-dimensional array changedsignificantly, it means that there is no event of approximating. Thusthe flow proceeds to optional step 525 or returns back to step 510.

Optional step 525: since there is no external conductive objectapproximating or touching the touch screen 120, the sensing of externalconductive object may be paused for a while. Then the flow returns backto step 510. In some embodiments, the step 525 may further comprisedetermining how many times that no external conductive object isdetected. If the number exceeds a threshold, the time duration of thepause may be extended furthermore to reduce power consumption.

Step 530: grounding the third electrodes 123. In one embodiment, all ofthe third electrodes 123 may be grounded or connected to a certaindirect current (DC) potential. In an alternative embodiment, the thirdelectrodes 123 approximated or touched by the external conductive object139 may be grounded or connected to a certain direct current (DC)potential.

Step 540: performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodes121 and the second electrodes 122. In one embodiment, when all of thethird electrodes 123 are grounded or connected to a certain directcurrent (DC) potential, person having ordinary skill in the art canunderstand that it may have the driving circuit module 112 takes turnsto emit driving signals via the first electrodes 121 and may have thesensing circuit module 113 measures the driving signals induced by allof the second electrodes in order to get an one-dimensional arraycomposed by multiple sensing information elements when each one of thefirst electrodes 121 is driven. When an external conductive objectapproximating or touching a point nearby an intersection of one of thefirst electrodes 121 and one of the second electrodes 122, the elasticdielectric layer 124 nearby the point is deformed accordingly so as thethird electrodes nearby the point gets closer to the one of the secondelectrodes 122. Hence, part of the driving signals would be transferredto the external conductive object 139 via the grounded third electrodes123 so as the driving signals sensed via the one of the secondelectrodes 122 is changed accordingly. Hence, the element of theone-dimensional array corresponding to the one of the second electrodes122 is changed accordingly.

When each of the first electrodes 121 is driven, correspondingone-dimensional array can be measured. A two-dimensional array iscomposed by the multiple one-dimensional arrays according to positionsof corresponding first electrodes 121. According to the two-dimensionalarray and a base two-dimensional array when no external conductiveobject 139 approximating or touching the touch screen, it may determinewhether exists one or more touching events caused by one or moreexternal conductive objects touching the touch screen 120. Each one ofthe touch events is corresponding to a point or a coordinate.

In an alternative embodiment, when only some of the third electrodes 123are grounded or connected to a certain DC potential at step 530, mutualcapacitance sensing may be performed at the area covered by these thirdelectrodes 123, merely. For examples, with respect to the structures asshown in FIG. 2A or 2C, in case the first electrodes 121 and the thirdelectrodes 123 are all in parallel to the first axis, the firstelectrodes 121 corresponding to the area where the third electrodes 123are grounded can be found. Person having ordinary skilled in the art canunderstand that it may have the driving circuit module 112 takes turnsto emit driving signals via the first electrodes 121. Similarly, byutilizing the aforementioned mutual capacitance sensing steps, atwo-dimensional array corresponding to a part of the touch screen 120.Furthermore, it may determine whether exists one or more touching eventscaused by one or more external conductive objects touching the touchscreen 120. Each one of the touch events is corresponding to a point ora coordinate.

Since different external conductive objects 139 may apply differentpressures, the deformations of the elastic dielectric layer 124 may bedifferent accordingly. When the second electrode 122 is getting closerto the third electrode 123, the change of the capacitance in between isgetting larger. Hence, the pressure applied by the correspondingexternal conductive object 139 may be calculated according to the changeof the capacitance. In one embodiment, a pressure value corresponding toeach of the touching events can be calculated accordingly.

Step 550: according to the detection result got at the step 540,determining whether the touching event is detected. When the externalconductive object 139 only approximates the touch screen 120 withoutcontact, corresponding approximating event can be detected at the step510. However, no corresponding touching event can be detected at thestep 540. In this case, the flow proceeds to optional step 560 orreturns to the step 510. When the corresponding approximating event isdetected at the step 510 and the corresponding touching event is alsodetected at the step 540, the flow proceeds to the step 570.

Optional step 560: reporting the approximating event detected at thestep 510 to the host 140. The approximating event reported in this stepmay include a position of the corresponding third electrode 123 withrespect to the touch screen 120.

Step 570: reporting the touching event detected at the step 540 to thehost 140. The touching event reported in this step may include itsposition or its coordinates. Corresponding pressure value may be alsoincluded.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which shows a flowchart diagram of a touchsensitive processing method 600 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. The touch sensitive processing method 600 may beimplemented by the touch sensitive processing apparatus 110 which mayapply to the “double routing” structure as shown in FIG. 3B and thethree structures as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, respectively. In oneembodiment, the touch sensitive processing method 600 is realized byexecution of a program stored in a non-volatile memory and executed bythe processor module 114. Unless there exists a causal relationship, thepresent application does not limit execution sequence of any two steps.

Step 610: performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes123. In this step, it may have the driving circuit module 112 and thesensing circuit module 113 to perform self-capacitance sensing via oneor more of the third electrodes 123 concurrently. Person having ordinaryskill in the art can understand that the driving circuit module 112 mayemit driving signals via both ends of each of the third electrodes 123.Simultaneously, the sensing circuit module 113 may measure the drivingsignals via each of the third electrodes 123 to gather one-dimensionalarrays including multiple sensing information elements. In other words,the sensing result corresponding to first ends of the third electrodes123 are called first-end one-dimensional arrays. The sensing resultcorresponding to first ends of the third electrodes 123 are calledsecond-end one-dimensional arrays. When one external conductive object139 approximating one of the third electrodes 123, part of the drivingsignals induced by the third electrode 123 would be transferred tooutside via the external conductive object 139. Hence, the drivingsignals measured via the third electrode 123 are changed accordingly.When the external conductive object is closer to the first end, thecapacitance changes corresponding to the first-end sensing informationand the second-end sensing information are different

Assuming that the third electrodes 123 are in parallel to the firstaxis, a coordinate with respect to the first axis of the externalconductive object 139 may be obtained according to differences betweenthe first-end sensing information and the second-end sensinginformation. Or alternatively, a first capacitance change may becalculated according to the first-end sensing information and a basefirst-end sensing information, a second capacitance change may becalculated according to the second-end sensing information and a basesecond-end sensing information. At last, according to a differencebetween the first capacitance change and the second capacitance change,a coordinate value with respect to the first axis of the externalconductive object 139 may be calculated accordingly.

Besides, since the multiple third electrodes are disposed along thesecond axis, a coordinate value with respect to the second axis of theexternal conductive object 139 may be calculated according to thefirst-end one-dimensional array and a base first-end one-dimensionalarray or according to the second-end one-dimensional array and a basesecond-end one-dimensional array.

Person having ordinary skill in the art can understand that in case twoor more external conductive objects approximate the same third electrode123, the aforementioned calculation is not appropriated to calculatepositions of the approximating events. It only indicates that at leastone approximating event is happened nearby the third electrode 123. Inother words, the touch sensitive system provided by the presentembodiment is able to detect an approximating position of a singleexternal conductive object 139 and to detect two or more approximatingpositions of external conductive objects 139 which are near differentthird electrodes 123.

Step 620: determining whether an external conductive objectapproximates. If one or more approximating events are detected at step610, it is determined that there exists at least one external conductiveobject 139 approximating. Thus, the flow proceeds to step 530.Otherwise, the flow proceeds to step 525.

Step 650: determining whether the approximating event is correspondingto a touching event. In theory, when a touching event is detected, theremust be a corresponding approximating event detected at step 610.However, as discussed above, in case two or more external conductiveobjects approximate the same third electrode 123, the step 610 can onlyrecognize that there is at least one approximating event. However, instep 540, two or more corresponding touching events may be detected.Hence, in case that the first-axis coordinate of the position of theapproximating event is within a range of the first-axis coordinate ofthe position of the touching event, it is determined that theapproximating event is corresponding to a touching event.

In this embodiment, in case that the approximating event is not beingcorresponding to a touching event, it implies that the externalconductive object corresponding to the approximating event does notcontact the touch screen 120. Hence, if so, the flow proceeds to step660. Otherwise, the flow proceeds to step 570. In this embodiment, if atouching event is detected, its corresponding approximating event wouldnot be reported.

Step 660: reporting the approximating event detected at step 610 to thehost. As elaborated above, the touch system provided by this embodimentis able to detect one approximating position of a single externalconductive object 139 and two or more approximating positions of two ormore external conductive objects 139 which approximate two or moredifferent third electrodes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensitiveprocessing method is provided. The touch sensitive processing methodapplicable to a touch panel which sequentially includes a layer of thirdelectrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least one layer of touchelectrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodes includes multipleparallel third electrodes, the at least one layer of touch electrodesincludes multiple first electrodes in parallel to a first axis andmultiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis, each of thefirst electrode intersects with the second electrodes, wherein the touchsensitive method comprising: performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get an one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of the third electrodes;detecting a first approximating event corresponding to a firstconductive object according to the one-dimensional array and a baseone-dimensional array, wherein a distance between the layer of thirdelectrodes and the first conductive object is less than a distancebetween the layer of touch electrodes and first conductive object; andwhen the first approximating event is detected, performing followingsteps: performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodesand the second electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array;detecting a first touching event corresponding to the first externalconductive object according to the two-dimensional array; and reportingthe first approximating event to a host when the first touching event isnot detected.

Preferably, in order to report a touching event in case it is detectedby the mutual-capacitance sensing, the touch sensitive processing methodfurther comprises reporting the first touching event to the host whenthe first touching event is detected.

Preferably, in order to accelerate the mutual-capacitance sensingaccording to the sensing results corresponding to the third electrodes,the third electrodes are in parallel to the first axis, themutual-capacitance sensing step comprises emitting driving signals viasome of the first electrodes nearby the first approximating event andsensing the driving signals via the second electrodes in a time-sharingmanner in order to get the two-dimensional array.

Preferably, in order to report a plurality of approximating or touchingevents, the touch sensitive processing method further comprises: when asecond approximating event corresponding to a second external conductiveobject is detected according to the one-dimensional array and the baseone-dimensional array, detecting a second touching event correspondingto the second external conductive object according to thetwo-dimensional array; reporting the second approximating event to thehost when the second touching event is not detected; and reporting thesecond touching event to the host when the second touching event isdetected, wherein the first approximating event and the secondapproximating event are corresponding to different third electrodes.

Preferably, in order to detect multiple external conductive objectsnearby the same third electrode, the touch sensitive processing methodfurther comprises: detecting a second touching event corresponding to asecond external conductive object according to the two-dimensionalarray; determining whether the first touching event and the secondtouching event are corresponding to one of the third electrodescorresponding to the first approximating event; and reporting the secondtouching event to the host when it is determined that the first touchingevent and the second touching event are corresponding to one of thethird electrodes corresponding to the first approximating event.

Preferably, in order to calculate a pressure value corresponding to thetouching event by considering compression degree of the elasticdielectric layer, the touch sensitive processing method furthercomprises calculating a pressure value corresponding to the firsttouching event according to elements of the two-dimensional arraycorresponding to the first touching event.

Preferably, in order to dissipate charges of the driving signals to theexternal conductive object via the first electrodes and the thirdelectrodes, a total area of the third electrodes is more than 80% of anarea of the touch panel.

According to one embodiment of the present application, a touchsensitive processing apparatus is provided. The touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus applicable to a touch panel which sequentiallyincludes a layer of third electrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and atleast one layer of touch electrodes, wherein the layer of thirdelectrodes includes multiple parallel third electrodes, the at least onelayer of touch electrodes includes multiple first electrodes in parallelto a first axis and multiple second electrodes in parallel to a secondaxis, each of the first electrode intersects with the second electrodes,wherein the touch sensitive apparatus comprising: an interconnectionnetwork module, configured to connect to one or more of the first, thesecond and the third electrodes; a driving circuit module, configured totransmit driving signals via the interconnection network module; asensing circuit module, configured to sense induced driving signals viathe interconnection network module; a processor module, coupled to theinterconnection network module, the driving circuit module and thesensing circuit module, configured to execute instructions stored innon-volatile memory to realize following steps: have the driving circuitmodule and the sensing circuit module through the interconnectionnetwork performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes inorder to get an one-dimensional array composing sensing informationcorresponding to each of the third electrodes; detecting a firstapproximating event corresponding to a first conductive object accordingto the one-dimensional array and a base one-dimensional array, wherein adistance between the layer of third electrodes and the first conductiveobject is less than a distance between the layer of touch electrodes andfirst conductive object; and when the first approximating event isdetected, performing following steps: have the driving circuit moduleand the sensing circuit module through the interconnection networkperforming mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodes and thesecond electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array; detecting afirst touching event corresponding to the first external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; and reporting the firstapproximating event to a host when the first touching event is notdetected.

Preferably, in order to report a touching event in case it is detectedby the mutual-capacitance sensing, the processor module is furtherconfigured for reporting the first touching event to the host when thefirst touching event is detected.

Preferably, in order to accelerate the mutual-capacitance sensingaccording to the sensing results corresponding to the third electrodes,the third electrodes are in parallel to the first axis, themutual-capacitance sensing step comprises the driving circuit module toemit driving signals via some of the first electrodes nearby the firstapproximating event and the sensing circuit module to sense the drivingsignals via the second electrodes in a time-sharing manner in order toget the two-dimensional array.

Preferably, in order to report a plurality of approximating or touchingevents, the processor module is further configured for: when a secondapproximating event corresponding to a second external conductive objectis detected according to the one-dimensional array and the baseone-dimensional array, detecting a second touching event correspondingto the second external conductive object according to thetwo-dimensional array; reporting the second approximating event to thehost when the second touching event is not detected; and reporting thesecond touching event to the host when the second touching event isdetected, wherein the first approximating event and the secondapproximating event are corresponding to different third electrodes.

Preferably, in order to detect multiple external conductive objectsnearby the same third electrode, the processor module is furtherconfigured for: detecting a second touching event corresponding to asecond external conductive object according to the two-dimensionalarray; determining whether the first touching event and the secondtouching event are corresponding to one of the third electrodescorresponding to the first approximating event; and reporting the secondtouching event to the host when it is determined that the first touchingevent and the second touching event are corresponding to one of thethird electrodes corresponding to the first approximating event.

Preferably, in order to calculate a pressure value corresponding to thetouching event by considering compression degree of the elasticdielectric layer, the processor module is further configured forcalculating a pressure value corresponding to the first touching eventaccording to elements of the two-dimensional array corresponding to thefirst touching event.

Preferably, in order to dissipate charges of the driving signals to theexternal conductive object via the first electrodes and the thirdelectrodes, a total area of the third electrodes is more than 80% of anarea of the touch panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch system isprovided. The touch system comprising the aforementioned touch panel andthe touch sensitive processing apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensitiveprocessing method is provided. The touch sensitive processing methodapplicable to a touch panel which sequentially includes a layer of thirdelectrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least one layer of touchelectrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodes includes multipleparallel third electrodes, the at least one layer of touch electrodesincludes multiple first electrodes in parallel to a first axis andmultiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis, each of thefirst electrode intersects with the second electrodes, wherein the touchsensitive method comprising: performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get a first one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of first ends of the thirdelectrodes, and performing self-capacitance sensing via the thirdelectrodes in order to get a second one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of second ends of the thirdelectrodes; detecting a first approximating event corresponding to afirst conductive object according to the first one-dimensional array andthe second one-dimensional array, wherein a distance between the layerof third electrodes and the first conductive object is less than adistance between the layer of touch electrodes and first conductiveobject; and when the first approximating event is detected, performingfollowing steps: performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the firstelectrodes and the second electrodes in order to get a two-dimensionalarray; detecting a first touching event corresponding to the firstexternal conductive object according to the two-dimensional array; andreporting the first approximating event to a host when the firsttouching event is not detected.

Preferably, in order to report a touching event in case it is detectedby the mutual-capacitance sensing, the touch sensitive processing methodfurther comprises: reporting the first touching event to the host whenthe first touching event is detected.

Preferably, in order to accelerate the mutual-capacitance sensingaccording to the sensing results corresponding to the third electrodes,the third electrodes are in parallel to the first axis, themutual-capacitance sensing step comprises emitting driving signals viasome of the first electrodes nearby the first approximating event andsensing the driving signals via the second electrodes in a time-sharingmanner in order to get the two-dimensional array.

Preferably, in order to report a plurality of approximating or touchingevents, the touch sensitive processing method further comprises: when asecond approximating event corresponding to a second external conductiveobject is detected according to the first one-dimensional array and thesecond one-dimensional array, detecting a second touching eventcorresponding to the second external conductive object according to thetwo-dimensional array; reporting the second approximating event to thehost when the second touching event is not detected; and reporting thesecond touching event to the host when the second touching event isdetected, wherein the first approximating event and the secondapproximating event are corresponding to different third electrodes.

Preferably, in order to detect multiple external conductive objectsnearby the same third electrode, the touch sensitive processing methodfurther comprises: detecting a second touching event corresponding to asecond external conductive object according to the two-dimensionalarray; determining whether the first touching event and the secondtouching event are corresponding to one of the third electrodescorresponding to the first approximating event; and reporting the secondtouching event to the host when it is determined that the first touchingevent and the second touching event are corresponding to one of thethird electrodes corresponding to the first approximating event.

Preferably, in order to calculate a pressure value corresponding to thetouching event by considering compression degree of the elasticdielectric layer, the touch sensitive processing method furthercomprises calculating a pressure value corresponding to the firsttouching event according to elements of the two-dimensional arraycorresponding to the first touching event.

Preferably, in order to dissipate charges of the driving signals to theexternal conductive object via the first electrodes and the thirdelectrodes, a total area of the third electrodes is more than 80% of anarea of the touch panel.

Preferably, in order to provide more information of the approximatingevent, the first approximating event includes a pair of coordinates withrespect to the touch panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus is provided. The touch sensitive processingapparatus applicable to a touch panel which sequentially includes alayer of third electrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least onelayer of touch electrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodesincludes multiple parallel third electrodes, the at least one layer oftouch electrodes includes multiple first electrodes in parallel to afirst axis and multiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis,each of the first electrode intersects with the second electrodes,wherein the touch sensitive apparatus comprising: an interconnectionnetwork module, configured to connect to one or more of the firstelectrodes, the second electrodes, first ends and second ends of thethird electrodes; a driving circuit module, configured to transmitdriving signals via the interconnection network module; a sensingcircuit module, configured to sense induced driving signals via theinterconnection network module; a processor module, coupled to theinterconnection network module, the driving circuit module and thesensing circuit module, configured to execute instructions stored innon-volatile memory to realize following steps: have the driving circuitmodule and the sensing circuit module through the interconnectionnetwork performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes inorder to get a first one-dimensional array composing sensing informationcorresponding to each of the first ends of the third electrodes, andhave the driving circuit module and the sensing circuit module throughthe interconnection network performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get a second one-dimensional arraycomposing sensing information corresponding to each of the second endsof the third electrodes; detecting a first approximating eventcorresponding to a first conductive object according to the firstone-dimensional array and the second one-dimensional array, wherein adistance between the layer of third electrodes and the first conductiveobject is less than a distance between the layer of touch electrodes andfirst conductive object; and when the first approximating event isdetected, performing following steps: have the driving circuit moduleand the sensing circuit module through the interconnection networkperforming mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodes and thesecond electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array; detecting afirst touching event corresponding to the first external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; and reporting the firstapproximating event to a host when the first touching event is notdetected.

Preferably, in order to report a touching event in case it is detectedby the mutual-capacitance sensing, the processor module is furtherconfigured for reporting the first touching event to the host when thefirst touching event is detected.

Preferably, in order to accelerate the mutual-capacitance sensingaccording to the sensing results corresponding to the third electrodes,the third electrodes are in parallel to the first axis, themutual-capacitance sensing step comprises the driving circuit module toemit driving signals via some of the first electrodes nearby the firstapproximating event and the sensing circuit module to sense the drivingsignals via the second electrodes in a time-sharing manner in order toget the two-dimensional array.

Preferably, in order to report a plurality of approximating or touchingevents, the processor module is further configured for when a secondapproximating event corresponding to a second external conductive objectis detected according to the first one-dimensional array and the secondone-dimensional array, detecting a second touching event correspondingto the second external conductive object according to thetwo-dimensional array; reporting the second approximating event to thehost when the second touching event is not detected; and reporting thesecond touching event to the host when the second touching event isdetected, wherein the first approximating event and the secondapproximating event are corresponding to different third electrodes.

Preferably, in order to detect multiple external conductive objectsnearby the same third electrode, the processor module is furtherconfigured for detecting a second touching event corresponding to asecond external conductive object according to the two-dimensionalarray; determining whether the first touching event and the secondtouching event are corresponding to one of the third electrodescorresponding to the first approximating event; and reporting the secondtouching event to the host when it is determined that the first touchingevent and the second touching event are corresponding to one of thethird electrodes corresponding to the first approximating event.

Preferably, in order to calculate a pressure value corresponding to thetouching event by considering compression degree of the elasticdielectric layer, the processor module is further configured forcalculating a pressure value corresponding to the first touching eventaccording to elements of the two-dimensional array corresponding to thefirst touching event.

Preferably, in order to dissipate charges of the driving signals to theexternal conductive object via the first electrodes and the thirdelectrodes, a total area of the third electrodes is more than 80% of anarea of the touch panel.

Preferably, in order to provide more information of the approximatingevent, the first approximating event includes a pair of coordinates withrespect to the touch panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch system isprovided. The touch system comprising the aforementioned touch panel andthe touch sensitive processing apparatus.

The touch system, the touch sensitive processing apparatus and methodprovided by the present application can distinguish whether the externalconductive object approximates or contacts the touch screen so as thehost can increase types of responsive activities with respect todifferent kinds of input corresponding to one position. Thus, thefunctionalities of the touch system are increased to enrich user'sexperience.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not to be limited to the aboveembodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensitive processing method applicable toa touch panel which sequentially includes a layer of third electrodes,an elastic dielectric layer and at least one layer of touch electrodes,wherein the layer of third electrodes includes multiple parallel thirdelectrodes, the at least one layer of touch electrodes includes multiplefirst electrodes in parallel to a first axis and multiple secondelectrodes in parallel to a second axis, each of the first electrodeintersects with the second electrodes, wherein the touch sensitivemethod comprising: performing self-capacitance sensing via the thirdelectrodes in order to get a first one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of first ends of the thirdelectrodes, and performing self-capacitance sensing via the thirdelectrodes in order to get a second one-dimensional array composingsensing information corresponding to each of second ends of the thirdelectrodes; detecting a first approximating event corresponding to afirst conductive object according to the first one-dimensional array andthe second one-dimensional array, wherein a distance between the layerof third electrodes and the first conductive object is less than adistance between the layer of touch electrodes and first conductiveobject; and when the first approximating event is detected, performingfollowing steps: performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the firstelectrodes and the second electrodes in order to get a two-dimensionalarray; detecting a first touching event corresponding to the firstexternal conductive object according to the two-dimensional array; andreporting the first approximating event to a host when the firsttouching event is not detected.
 2. The touch sensitive processing methodas claimed in claim 1, further comprises: reporting the first touchingevent to the host when the first touching event is detected.
 3. Thetouch sensitive processing method as claimed in claim 2, furthercomprises: detecting a second touching event corresponding to a secondexternal conductive object according to the two-dimensional array;determining whether the first touching event and the second touchingevent are corresponding to one of the third electrodes corresponding tothe first approximating event; and reporting the second touching eventto the host when it is determined that the first touching event and thesecond touching event are corresponding to one of the third electrodescorresponding to the first approximating event.
 4. The touch sensitiveprocessing method as claimed in claim 2, further comprises: calculatinga pressure value corresponding to the first touching event according toelements of the two-dimensional array corresponding to the firsttouching event.
 5. The touch sensitive processing method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the third electrodes are in parallel to the first axis,the mutual-capacitance sensing step comprises emitting driving signalsvia some of the first electrodes nearby the first approximating eventand sensing the driving signals via the second electrodes in atime-sharing manner in order to get the two-dimensional array.
 6. Thetouch sensitive processing method as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprises: when a second approximating event corresponding to a secondexternal conductive object is detected according to the firstone-dimensional array and the second one-dimensional array, detecting asecond touching event corresponding to the second external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; reporting the secondapproximating event to the host when the second touching event is notdetected; and reporting the second touching event to the host when thesecond touching event is detected, wherein the first approximating eventand the second approximating event are corresponding to different thirdelectrodes.
 7. The touch sensitive processing method as claimed in claim1, wherein a total area of the third electrodes is more than 80% of anarea of the touch panel.
 8. The touch sensitive processing method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first approximating event includes apair of coordinates with respect to the touch panel.
 9. A touchsensitive processing apparatus applicable to a touch panel whichsequentially includes a layer of third electrodes, an elastic dielectriclayer and at least one layer of touch electrodes, wherein the layer ofthird electrodes includes multiple parallel third electrodes, the atleast one layer of touch electrodes includes multiple first electrodesin parallel to a first axis and multiple second electrodes in parallelto a second axis, each of the first electrode intersects with the secondelectrodes, wherein the touch sensitive apparatus comprising: aninterconnection network module, configured to connect to one or more ofthe first electrodes, the second electrodes, first ends and second endsof the third electrodes; a driving circuit module, configured totransmit driving signals via the interconnection network module; asensing circuit module, configured to sense induced driving signals viathe interconnection network module; a processor module, coupled to theinterconnection network module, the driving circuit module and thesensing circuit module, configured to execute instructions stored innon-volatile memory to realize following steps: have the driving circuitmodule and the sensing circuit module through the interconnectionnetwork performing self-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes inorder to get a first one-dimensional array composing sensing informationcorresponding to each of the first ends of the third electrodes, andhave the driving circuit module and the sensing circuit module throughthe interconnection network performing self-capacitance sensing via thethird electrodes in order to get a second one-dimensional arraycomposing sensing information corresponding to each of the second endsof the third electrodes; detecting a first approximating eventcorresponding to a first conductive object according to the firstone-dimensional array and the second one-dimensional array, wherein adistance between the layer of third electrodes and the first conductiveobject is less than a distance between the layer of touch electrodes andfirst conductive object; and when the first approximating event isdetected, performing following steps: have the driving circuit moduleand the sensing circuit module through the interconnection networkperforming mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodes and thesecond electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array; detecting afirst touching event corresponding to the first external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; and reporting the firstapproximating event to a host when the first touching event is notdetected.
 10. The touch sensitive processing apparatus as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the processor module is further configured forreporting the first touching event to the host when the first touchingevent is detected.
 11. The touch sensitive processing apparatus asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the processor module is further configuredfor: detecting a second touching event corresponding to a secondexternal conductive object according to the two-dimensional array;determining whether the first touching event and the second touchingevent are corresponding to one of the third electrodes corresponding tothe first approximating event; and reporting the second touching eventto the host when it is determined that the first touching event and thesecond touching event are corresponding to one of the third electrodescorresponding to the first approximating event.
 12. The touch sensitiveprocessing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processormodule is further configured for calculating a pressure valuecorresponding to the first touching event according to elements of thetwo-dimensional array corresponding to the first touching event.
 13. Thetouch sensitive processing apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein thethird electrodes are in parallel to the first axis, themutual-capacitance sensing step comprises the driving circuit module toemit driving signals via some of the first electrodes nearby the firstapproximating event and the sensing circuit module to sense the drivingsignals via the second electrodes in a time-sharing manner in order toget the two-dimensional array.
 14. The touch sensitive processingapparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processor module is furtherconfigured for: when a second approximating event corresponding to asecond external conductive object is detected according to the firstone-dimensional array and the second one-dimensional array, detecting asecond touching event corresponding to the second external conductiveobject according to the two-dimensional array; reporting the secondapproximating event to the host when the second touching event is notdetected; and reporting the second touching event to the host when thesecond touching event is detected, wherein the first approximating eventand the second approximating event are corresponding to different thirdelectrodes.
 15. The touch sensitive processing apparatus as claimed inclaim 9, wherein a total area of the third electrodes is more than 80%of an area of the touch panel.
 16. The touch sensitive processingapparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first approximating eventincludes a pair of coordinates with respect to the touch panel.
 17. Atouch system, comprising: a touch panel, which sequentially includes alayer of third electrodes, an elastic dielectric layer and at least onelayer of touch electrodes, wherein the layer of third electrodesincludes multiple parallel third electrodes, the at least one layer oftouch electrodes includes multiple first electrodes in parallel to afirst axis and multiple second electrodes in parallel to a second axis,each of the first electrode intersects with the second electrodes; and atouch sensitive apparatus comprising: an interconnection network module,configured to connect to one or more of the first electrodes, the secondelectrodes, first ends and second ends of the third electrodes; adriving circuit module, configured to transmit driving signals via theinterconnection network module; a sensing circuit module, configured tosense induced driving signals via the interconnection network module; aprocessor module, coupled to the interconnection network module, thedriving circuit module and the sensing circuit module, configured toexecute instructions stored in non-volatile memory to realize followingsteps: have the driving circuit module and the sensing circuit modulethrough the interconnection network performing self-capacitance sensingvia the third electrodes in order to get a first one-dimensional arraycomposing sensing information corresponding to each of the first ends ofthe third electrodes, and have the driving circuit module and thesensing circuit module through the interconnection network performingself-capacitance sensing via the third electrodes in order to get asecond one-dimensional array composing sensing information correspondingto each of the second ends of the third electrodes; detecting a firstapproximating event corresponding to a first conductive object accordingto the first one-dimensional array and the second one-dimensional array,wherein a distance between the layer of third electrodes and the firstconductive object is less than a distance between the layer of touchelectrodes and first conductive object; and when the first approximatingevent is detected, performing following steps: have the driving circuitmodule and the sensing circuit module through the interconnectionnetwork performing mutual-capacitance sensing via the first electrodesand the second electrodes in order to get a two-dimensional array;detecting a first touching event corresponding to the first externalconductive object according to the two-dimensional array; and reportingthe first approximating event to a host when the first touching event isnot detected.